Kubiak defends Phillips' interview for job with Buccaneers

Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, left, and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips stand for the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, left, and defensive...

For those throwing a fit over Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips interviewing for the Tampa Bay coaching job before the biggest game in franchise history, coach Gary Kubiak advises them to relax.

Phillips will interview Friday after work in Houston, Kubiak said Monday. He'll be interviewed at a time he usually would be home taking it easy and getting ready for Saturday's flight to Baltimore, where the Texans play a divisional-round playoff game at noon Sunday.

"It will not be a distraction," the Texans coach said. "Nothing will change about our schedule. I want everybody to understand it that nothing will change about what we do."

Tampa Bay is looking for a replacement for Raheem Morris, who was fired after three seasons. Phillips is one of many who have been or will be interviewed before owner Malcolm Glazer's three sons who run the team and general manager Mark Dominik decide on a replacement.

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History lesson

Leading up to the Texans' playoff game at Baltimore on Sunday, the Chronicle looks back at the Oilers' four NFL postseason victories on the road:

Game: Oilers vs. Miami.

Date: Dec. 24, 1978.

Round: Wild card.

Score: Oilers 17, Dolphins 9.

What happened: The Oilers had beaten Don Shula and the Dolphins on an electric evening in the Astrodome during the regular season, a 35-30 Monday Night Football victory that's regarded as one of the long-running series' most memorable games. Earl Campbell rushed for 199 yards and scored four touchdowns, the last on an 81-yard sprint on an end-around with the entire Dolphins defense, it seemed, in pursuit. Miami did a much more effective job of containing Campbell in the rematch on a rain-soaked field at the old Orange Bowl, but Dan Pastorini delivered arguably his most memorable performance, throwing for 306 yards despite playing with three broken ribs. The defense forced five Dolphins turnovers. And Campbell got Shula again in the end, scoring a late touchdown to secure the franchise's first playoff victory anywhere in 17 years. It won the Oilers a trip to New England to face the Patriots in the AFC semifinals.

"I think it's a huge compliment," Kubiak said. "We all know Wade's track record and the job that he's done. That's not a surprise at all that somebody would want to visit with him about the head coaching job."

When Kubiak was the offensive coordinator in Denver, he interviewed during the playoffs with a contingent led by Texans owner Bob McNair.

"We're proud of any opportunity any one of our coaches would get," Kubiak said. "We'll go through our normal week, and Wade will visit them sometime Friday evening."

Kubiak was informed that fans are upset with Phillips interviewing before the season is over. League rules say teams have to grant permission for assistants to interview for head coaching jobs, and there's a window to conduct the interviews.

Part of the process

"That's just part of it," Kubiak said. "When they ask for permission, you try to make it work within your normal schedule.

"I think it's a compliment to (linebackers coach) Reggie Herring, (defensive backs coach) Vance (Joseph), (assistant head coach/defensive line) Bill (Kollar) - the defensive staff - and to our defensive players because of the job that Wade's done. Those are the guys that have helped him do that job."

And those guys are going to have to help him do a better job against Baltimore than they did in the regular-season game. On Oct. 16, the Ravens won at home 29-14. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 300 yards, and running back Ray Rice gained 100.

"They closed, and we didn't," Kubiak said. "When you look at the game, I think it was (close) late in the third quarter, and they made big plays in the pass game in the fourth quarter."

The Texans trailed 19-14 with five minutes left.

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"We had opportunities offensively and didn't make them in the fourth quarter," Kubiak said.

Ravens formidable

Baltimore finished 8-0 at home and 12-4, earning a first-round bye.

"They've been dominant at home," Kubiak said. "We know what we have to do to win. We have to play exceptionally well. We're going to work and get ready to do that.

"You never know what you're going to have to do to win. Obviously, we like to run the ball. We like to play good defense. That's kind of been a formula for us, but you know, this week, I don't know.

"We've got to do everything you can to put your players in the best possible position to compete, and that's our focus right now as we put our game plan together - just to give them the best chance to have a chance to be successful."